Fumigated iftjblirittjbe



July 9, 1929. c -ry 1,719,940

FUMIGATED FURNITURE Filed Aug. 15.. l928 INVENTO WWW \ATTORNEY Application filed August 15, 1928.

Patented July 9, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LUTHER D. LICHTY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO JOHN G. NULL, OF LEONIA, NEW JERSEY.

FUMIGATED FURNITURE.

My invention relates to fumigated furniture, and more particularly to the embodiment therein of automatically acting means for thoroughly disseminating the fumes of an insecticide throughout the upholstered portions of articles of fm'niture.

It is a well known fact that certain kinds of upholstery upon articles of furniture, whether the same be in a. showroom or in the home, are subject to attack from moths and other insects, and that these insects generally conceal themselves within the cracks or creases at the junction of the seat and of the arms and back, but sometimes are present in the paddinp or stull'ing material itself.

It has heretofore been proposed to employ devices in furniture, constructed in different ways, so as to subjectdil'l'erent parts of the upholstery of the furniture to fumes of insecticides. Such devices have not gone into extensive use because of the ineffective application thereby of the insecticide to the necessary parts of the furniture.

lVith the above conditions in mind, I have provided a mechanism to be used in conjunction with the springs of upholstered furniture, so that the depression of the seat of the chair against the tension of the springs, will forcibly eject the fumes of an insecticide throughout the various hollow spaces of a chair covered with the upholstery in a manner to ensure an adequate supply of such fumes to ensure their penetration about all parts of the chair where moths or other insects might conceal themselves.

The device is so constructed. as to not only ensure the forcible ejection of the fumes adjacent the point where they will be most effective, but will ensure an adequate supply of such fumes at all times, in anticipation of such ejection. By this mechanism, vair, heavily laden with the fumes, may be delivered to the chair by means of a pumping mechanism which will be actuated as a resultof the compression of the springs of the seat.

The device is so constructed as to permit the convenient renewal of the supply of volatile insecticide as required, without disturbing the mechanisms; effective for ensuring the distribution of the fumes. Its construction is also such that, if desired, it may be used lieu of one of the springs o is chair "ins liavi action, t two-fob]. auction of cont-Maui. tenure til,- eushion Serial No. 299,683.

ing of the seat, as well as acting as an in secticide distributor.

The invention consists primarily in fumigated furniture embodying therein a flexible casing, a spring normally distending said casing, an insecticide container, a valve controlled connection between said container and said casing, a distributing chamber, distributing tubes leading therefrom to different portions of an article of furniture, and a valve controlled connection between said distributing chamber and said casing; and in such other novel features of construction and combination of parts, as are hereinafter set forth and described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

Referring to the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a vertical section through an arm chair including therein a fumigating device embodying the invention Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross sectional detail view of the fume distributing device; and

Fig. 3 is a bottom view thereof partly broken away.

Like letters refer to like parts throughout the several views.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in the the drawings, it is illustrated in connection. with an upholstered arm chair, said chair being shown more or less conventionally. ln this showing of the application of the invention, there is the usual spring chamher at below the upholstered seat of the chair, communicating with the space within the arms 0 of the chair. The seat spring rigging d is of the usual construction and arrangement. The bottom of the chamber is closed. by the fabric 0, and the front and sides by tapestry or other upholstery material f. The seat is padded as indicated at 9, this padding; being; enclosed in fabric, the upper face of which is ordinarily of the same tapestry as the material The back of the chair may be provided with spring rigging 7t seated in the chamber Z), closed at the back by fabric i, the front being suitably padded and faced with tapestry as shown at 'l. he sides of the chamber b are ordinarily closed by the back frame of the chaira v lVhilc, in t] bacl spirit accommodate same, this is not at all essential, and in most chairs this construction is not used, a padding similar to j being solely relied upon to cushion the back of the chair.

The purpose of the invention is to so distribute insecticide fumes as to have them permeate, as much as possible, the entire body of padding in the chair, and the various chambers are utilized merely as a means of distribution of the fumes throughout the padding.

The invention has not to do with the details of construction of the furniture, but to a mechanism for incorporation in the spring cushion seat of any article of furniture, by which the insecticide fumes will be forcibly delivered adjacent different portions of the padding or stuffing so as to thoroughly penctrate same, particularl' adjacent those portions thereof where the insects tend to hide.

It is desirable, however, to also distribute these fumes throughout the body of the pad ding or stu'llin since some insects germinate in such material and feed upon same.

Monn ted in relation to the spring rigging (Z isa flexible casing 7r: closed at the top by a rigid fran'ie m and si'lpported at the bottom by a rigid frame a. Between the frames m and a is a spring 0, tensioned to normally distend the flexible casing to the maximum extent permitted by the spring rigging. The bottom frame a provided with means foru'iing a chamber 22 communicating through the port p with the casing 71;, and means forming a distributing chamber q communicating with the casing Z: through ports 1 controlled by a valve Q2 consisting of a flexible strip, as shown more particularly in Fig. 8. Since the aggregate of the ports 1 is fairly large, the valve strip may be secured to the fittin a at each corner thereof so as to cause the valve action to be a bulging of the strip instead of the ordinary flap valve action. This, however, is imma terial.

Carriedby the bottom fitting a is a container r for avolatilc insecticide, this contaiiner having air intake ports 7'' through the sides thereof, and a removable bottom 1' exposed below the facing fabric a and adapted to support the box or other receptacle 1* for the insecticide.

Leading from the distributing chamber are a plurality of distributing tubes at, 'u, and

a, which tubes ordinarily are flexible rubber tubes connected with the distributing chamber by means of nipples, as shown. The distributing tube a is provided with a distributing fitting a closed at one end and having a series of discharge openings as shown, this fitting being positioned within the spring chamber a and serving to thoroughly disperse the fumes throughout the length of this fitting. The tubes a and a are merely open-ended, since the same wide distribution of the fumes is not required at the points with which these tubes communicate, as adjacent the seat, the portions of the upholstery most subject to attack by the insects being about the seat portion 5/ funiiigatcd by means of the fitting a.

The operation of the herein described device is substantially as follows The casing in and its appurtenances is mounted adjacent the springs of the spring rigging (Z with the top frame m contacting with the upper straps of this rigging, and the frame a resting upon the lower straps thereof. If desired, this casing may be substituted for one of the spring in the rigging, and the spring 0 relied upon "to give the desired spring support at the point where the casing is mounted. When the casing is used in a chair, it is preferable to lo ate it substantially centrally of the seat where the flexible casing will have the greatest range of amplitude as a result of the movements of the seat cushion 9 either upon the occupancy of the chair, or by the depression thereof by an attendant in a showroom.

Of course it is obvious that in sofas a plu rality of such casings may be used, or the proportions thereof may be increased, preferably the former, so as to ensure the delivery of an adequate supply of the insecti cide fumes upon the collapsing or partial collapsing of the casing 70 against the tension of the spring 0. The tubes a, a and a may be laid through the framework of the chair, to any desired point, during the operation. of upholstering the chair.

\Vith the parts assembled in the manner shown in Fig. 1, the depression of the seat will cause a partial collapsing of the cas ing ii-U which, as shown, has a bellows-like construction, thus displacing the gasifcrm contents of the casing, forcing themth rough the ports 'into the distributing chamber 1, and through the various tubes a, a and a to different points of the article of furniture. This collapsing of the casing is against the tension of the spring 0. VVith the collapsing of the casing la, the valve Q2 willbe automatically opened, and. the valve 2f will be automatically closed.

lVhen the pressure upon the chair seat 9 is relieved, the spring 0 and the sprin s of the rigglng g Wlll expand, thus mg the casing to its maximum extent, during which action insecticide fume laden air will be drawn from the container 1' through the valve controlled. ports 8 to within the casing through the chamber p1 and port p. l)ur ing this action, the valve 9 will be automatically closed. This action will be repeated with each compression of the seat and will ensure the forcible delivery of an adequate volume of the fumes to different portions of the chair with each collapsing of the casing 70. It will also ensure the casing Z being lilled at all times with the fume laden air and prevent the escape of same fromv the container 9" or from the casing at all times except upon the depression of the seat.

It is to be noted that the container as well as the casing is completely contained within the chamber a, and that under normal circumstances the air and fumes in such chamber is inert. This is also true of the chamber b and of the padded or upholstered portion 9 of the seat and of the back. The force with which the fume laden air is delivered through the tubes a, u" and a is sufficiently great to afford a thorough distribution thereof about the portions of the chair where these tubes discharge, and the expansion of the padding 9 of the seat, and j of the back, upon the release of pressure thereon will draw the fumes within the padding or stuffing itself.

While the insecticide in the container *1 will last for a considerable time, I preferably provide the removable closure 1" exposed exteriorly of the bottom facing 0, so that the supply of insecticide may be re newed without disturbing the upholstery in any way.

The various parts of the device, excepting the spring 0, the casing It and the valve flaps, may be made of wood, although the material used is a minor consideration.

lVith a device of the character herein described, the depression of the seat y will alays have the effect of delivering the insecticide fume laden air to different parts of the upholstery of the article of furniture. Furthermore, the construction described ensures the delivery only of the gas which is passed through the container 1', and its arrangement and construction is such that there is an of fective compression of such fumes necessary to their forcible delivery to the body of the upholstery, and also an effective suction for securing an adequate supply of fumes within the casing /c. Furthermore, the arrangement of the device is such that with the depression of the seat 1, the casing will be suflicicntly collapsed, while filled with the in secticide fume laden air, to always ensure the delivery of such to the upholstery of the chair.

It is not my intention to limit the inven tion to the precise details of construction and combination of parts shown in the drawings, it being apparent that such may be varied without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having described the lllVOlltlUl], what I claim as new and desire to have protected by Letters Patent, is

1. Fumigated furniture embodying therein a flexible casing, a spring normally distemling said casing, an insecticide c(. utainer, a valve controlled connection between said container and said casing, a distributing chamber, distrilmting tubes leading therefrom to different portions of an article of furniture, and a valve controlled connection between said distributing chamber and said casing.

2. Fumigated furniture embodying therein a flexible casing, rigid top and bottom frames therefor, said. rigid bottom frame having therein a distributing chamber, and a valve controlled port establishing com munication between said chamber and said casing, an insecticide container secured to the bottom of said. rigid bottom frame, said bottom frame having a valve controlled port of connnunication between said container and said casing, tubes leading from said distributing chamber to different portions of an article of furniture, and a spring normally distending said casing.

Fumigated furniture embodying therein a flexible casing, rigid top and bottom frames therefor, said rigid bottom frame having therein a distributing chamber, and a valve controlled port establishing communication between said chamber and said *asing, an insecticide container secured. to the bottom of said rigid bottom frame, said bottom frame having a valve controlled port of communication between said container and said casing, tubes leading from said distributing chamber to (flifl'erent portions of an article of furniture, and a spring within said casin and acting between said to p and bottom frames with a normal tendency to distend said casing.

l. Fumigated furniture embodying therein a flexible casing, rigid top and bottom frames therefor, said rigid bottom frame having therein a distributing chamber, and a valve controlled port establishing conunu nication between said chamber and said casing, an insecticide container secured to the bottom of said rigid bottom frame, and hav ing openings through the side wall thereof and an open bottom, a removable closure for said open bottom permitting access through said container for renewing the insecticide supply, said. bottom frame having a valve controlled port of communication between said container and said casing, tubes lead ing from said distrilniting ehanihi-ar to different portions of an article of farm.

and a spring normally 'distending said casmg.

5. "Fumigated furniture embodying there in a flexible casing, a spring normally distending said casing, an insecticide container, a valve controlled connection between said container and said casing, a distributing chamber, distributing tubes leading therefrom to different portions of an article of furniture, one of said tubes communicating with an elongated fitting having a plurality of discharge openings therein, and a valve controlled connection between said distributingchamber and said casing.

(3. Fumigated furniture embodying therein a flexible easing, rigid top and bottom frames therefor, said rigid bottom frame having therein a distributing chamber, and a port of communication between said chamber and said casing, a flexible valve adapted to close said port when said casing is being distended, an insecticide contain-m secured to the bottom of said rigid bottom frame, said bottom frame having a port of connnuing, a flexible valve adapted to close said port upon the collapsing of said casing, and. a spring normally dist-ending said casing.

7. Fumigatedfurniture embodying therein a flexible casing, rigid top and bottom frames therefor, said rigid bottom frame having therein a distributing chamber, and a port of communication between said chamber and said casing, a flexible valve adapted to close said port when said 0 sing is being distended, an insecticide container secured to the bottom of said rigid bottom frame, said bottom frame having a port of communication between said container and said casing, a flexible valve adapted to close said port upon the collapsing of said casing, and a spring within said casing and acting between said top and bottom frames with a normal tendency to distend said casing.

In witness whereof I have hereunto aflixed my signature, this 14th day of August, 1928.

LUTHER n. LIGHTY. 

